The organizers and sponsors along with the combatants of this year’s Caribbean Boxing Championships pose for a photo yesterday following the formal launch at Tower Suites. In excess of 70 of the Region’s best boxers from 12 territories will do battle from tonight in the annual event.

In excess of 70 of the Region’s best boxers from 12 territories will do battle from tonight in the annual Caribbean Boxing Championships.

Bragging rights and medals will be on the line during the four-night fixture which will be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 19:00hrs.

These and other details were disclosed yesterday at the Tower Suites during the formal launch of the event.

According to President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, he “expects a championship of a high quality.” He noted that Grenada was the initial host but pulled out due to constraints. He then added that Guyana saved the championships which according to him has a price tag of $8.5M since “it was important for us as a country to preserve the event.”

Ninvalle also stated that Guyana is out to regain the coveted country trophy but “it would not be a walk in the park.” Boxers from Antigua, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, St Lucia, Trinidad, USVI and of course Guyana are scheduled to do combat.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones said the government is committed to the development of young athletes and will be pulling out all the stops to ensure the event is a success.

He listed transportation, accommodation, meals, cash and the free use of the venue as some of the ways that the Ministry of Social Cohesion and the National Sports Commission will chip in to help shoulder the load of hosting the championships of such a magnitude.

Jones also disclosed that the punches will be streamed live on social media since the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall is now outfitted with high speed wifi.

Meanwhile, some of the coaches of the visiting outfits, Julian Jackson Jr (USVI), Stuart O’Connor (Cayman Islands) and Omar Gumbs (Guadeloupe) were in attendance and expressed their pleasure to be hosted in the 592. They collectively stated that their boxers are well prepared and will be putting their best feet and gloves forward.

Technical Director of the GBA, Terrence Poole told the media yesterday that all systems are in place for the successful hosting of the boxing “Olympic Games of the Caribbean” and encouraged patrons to support with their presence. Major sponsors include the Government, DDL, Khalsan PR Inc, Maggies’ Enterprise and the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC).